The penguin came to an end with a finale that cements it as one of the best DC television series of all time, largely due to its fantastic scripts, which featured many iconic quotes. With the end of The penguin establishing prospective plots for the story of Batman – Part IIthere’s a lot to be gleaned from the details and characterization found in the HBO series. The sharply and intelligently written show created a story worth revisiting in detail.
Although each episode of The penguin maintained a consistent level of quality, there were many moments that stood out in the series. Incorporating a dark style, with an unpredictable and cowardly character at the center, The penguin made for an immersive television experience like no other. Many believe that The penguin may be the greatest television comic series of all time, and discussions about The penguin season two has already emerged, suggesting the show could return. Reviewing The penguinWith the incredible dialogue, it’s clear why the story is so highly regarded.
10
“They’ll tell stories about us one day, kid.”
Oz explains his success to Vic after gaining loyalty in episode 6, “Gold Summit”
Oz’s plan begins to come to fruition with this episode, and his line here explains what this means for him. In The penguin episode 6, Oz creates some important relationships in an iconic scene that shows the heads of several different gangs getting together and sharing a beer. Afterwards, Oz revels in his own success, explaining to Vic that this consolidation of power is an incredible achievement for Gotham’s lower-class thugs.
Oz’s entire motivation is based on wanting to prove that he is better than those around him. He speaks well, but At the center of each of his actions, there seems to be a nagging insecurity that is always ready to emerge. Though questions remain after The penguinIn the end, the villain gets exactly what he wants in the end. Although it takes a lot of effort, Oz becomes someone genuinely terrifying and important in Gotham.
9
“I asked for extra pickles and they gave me two. So a normal amount of pickles is one?”
Oz calms the tension with Vic in episode 1, “After Hours”
The first scenes with Vic and Oz are some of the most tense in the entire series. The public could already feel the volatility that Oz carried after a scene in which he killed Alberto in cold bloodleading to questions about what he can do to Vic, even after the young man helps him. Vic is almost killed by Oz, but eventually relents when Oz sees a bit of himself in the child, demonstrated by Vic’s stutter.
Oz’s casual and funny reaction to the food the two are sharing is meant to calm the tension between him and Victor in the midst of all this. Although Oz is a truly horrendous villain who seems to have no reluctance to kill even those closest to him, he is excellent at presenting a facade that says otherwise. The line successfully defuses the tension for a moment, even if it doesn’t prevent a character’s tragic death that occurs later in The penguin.
8
“I have the devil in my house, Rex. What the hell am I supposed to do?
Francis makes plans to kill his son in episode 8, “A Great Or Little Thing”
The end of The penguin revealed the terrible fact that Francisco knew all along that Oz had murdered his brothers in cold blood and had done nothing about it. In a dark scene, she discusses her options, which appear to be described as using her son as a lackey to promote herself or killing him. The heartbreak and tension Francis feels when speaking to Rex is evident when she describes Oz as “the devil“, reinforcing the dilemma she faces in this dark scene.
Ultimately realizing his obsessive devotion to her, Francis gives up his plan to kill Oz. However, the idea she considered – and in fact seemed close to realizing the plan because of what Oz did – drastically changes the dynamic between mother and son. The relationship between Oz and Francis is quickly reshaped in the most disturbing ways, especially when young Oz looks at his mother with a disturbing love in his eyes. Francisco is really in a difficult situation, although she certainly doesn’t handle the issue well.
7
“I refuse to allow these damn old men to push me aside again like I’m nothing, so I’m going to take advantage of them now. And I will force them to their knees. It should be fun.
Sofia Falcone Describes Her Motivations in Episode 2, ‘Inside Man’
Sofia Falcone is a terrifying villain, with her Penguin origin inspired by a real-life tragedy. At this point in the series, she is treated with fear by those around her and seen as a monster. This makes sense to the audience at the time, who are told that she is the Executioner. As more details are revealed, however, lines like this begin to become more human, and this dialogue becomes a reaction to being hurt by her own family rather than the rantings of a bloodthirsty villain.
Sofia’s quote about being bullied serves to explain the person she has become. Although she was previously a selfless and intelligent young woman with many prospects ahead of her, her father, Carmine Falcone, takes all of that away from her after she begins to discover that he is actually the Executioner. When she is hurt and beaten for something she never did, she leaves Arkham in search of revenge. Without her father to destroy, she tries to bring down everyone like him.
6
“How could anyone know your worth unless you tell them, huh?”
Oz teaches Vic to demand the best in episode 3, “Bliss”
As things begin to evolve for Oz in his plans, he takes Vic into a more official position in The penguin episode 3. After he is hired, he pays Vic for his work and advises him to ask for more. This follows Oz’s own path in the series, where he feels he is owed more than he receives. Dejected and despised for his appearance, Oz feels like he has a lot to prove, and this line sums it up perfectly.
Oz knows that nothing will be handed to him and that he will have to lie, cheat and steal to reach the top of the criminal underworld. He thinks that no one will respect him simply for who he is, and that he must take distinct and memorable steps to prove the worth he knows he has.. Oz firmly believes he is the most important person in the world and will do everything he can to communicate that, no matter the cost.
5
“What you did to me. Was it worth it? Did you get everything you wanted? Because it seems like you just…want more.
Sofia calls Oz in episode 3, “Bliss”
Sofia knows that Oz betrayed her in the past, but she still decides to work with him again early in the show’s story. Much of this is because she knows she has little choice; practically everyone she trusted stabbed her in the back, trapping her in Arkham. Even so, she doesn’t trust Oz, which demonstrates her intelligence. Even though she’s going to work with him, she wants to call him and make sure he knows that.
Like many scenes where Oz is called out for his duplicity, he manages to shake it off in the end. Despite that, the question Sofia asks is left hanging and remains significant in showing how she views Oz throughout the rest of the series. It’s true that nothing seems to satisfy him, and this contributes to the horrible and frightening villain he becomes. Looking at him, even making plans with him, Sofia feels this tied-up bitterness and reluctance that is expressed so succinctly and effectively here in the show’s dialogue.
4
“You have to promise me that you will do something for yourself, that you will give me everything I deserve.”
Francis gives Oz his motivation in episode 7, “Top Hat”
With this dialogue – and the further context provided – Francis suggests that she doesn’t really care about Oz, but rather uses him as a means to an end. Although the original phrase appears to serve as inspiration for Oz, it becomes clear later that this is an illusion and that he is simply being used. Francis, like her son, cares more about herself than anyone else. Despite the horrific events in episode 7 of The penguinthis phrase is still difficult to hear, as it reinforces the motivations that Oz uses to justify his actions to himself and the people around him.
The Penguin’s origin here is sad in a way that makes perfect sense for the character. Oz comes from a family where using each other is the core of the relationship. He just wants his mother for himself, so he took away everything she loves. In response, Francis chooses to use Oz, to goad him into making something of himself in order to get the life and penthouse suite she always wanted. There is no love in any of this.
3
“Tomorrow I will start a new life. For the first time, I have hope.”
Sofia subtly tells her family that she plans to kill them in episode 4, “Cent’Anni”
Sofia’s family betrayed her and, in this iconic speech, where she stands at the end of the dinner table and announces her renunciation of her past life, she hints at her plans for the future. The entire family, including Luca, the new boss, severely underestimates Sofia and only seeks to use her as a means to their own ends. Clearly, Sofia is a scarier and more formidable opponent than this, leading to the scenes that would follow where she gasses the entire house.
With this speech, and with these words specifically, Sofia goes from Falcone to Gigante. As the entire family watches, completely unaware, she makes a toast and pronouncement on her own future. As the series progresses from this point, the tension builds, as the unsaid comes to fruition on screen. Sofia kills her entire family in cold bloodand moves forward with a new family name and a fully evolved outlook.
2
“That’s the thing about family. It’s your strength. It motivates you. But fuck if it doesn’t make you weak too. And I can’t have that anymore.”
Oz tells Vic why he needs to kill him in episode 8, “A Great Or Little Thing”
Oz states in The penguin episode 8 that his drive and drive come from his family. However, this loyalty seems to be darkly realized, mainly as an Oedipal attraction to one’s own mother. Still, Francis becomes the only character through which Oz can be explored. The entire climax of the series and Sofia’s influence on Oz wouldn’t have happened without her mother to use against him.
This leads perfectly to the series finale, where DC makes it very clear that this Penguin is totally evil. After an entire season of development and affection between Vic and Oz, and a close bond growing between them, Oz speaks these words before murdering Vic with his own hands. This is in response to the recognition that Vic sees Oz as family; After the murder of his own brothers, Oz sees that even a family bond is not enough to contain him.
1
“In my neighborhood, they have a parade in his honor. A damn parade. It wasn’t fancy, but it was a gesture, a show of love, of what he meant.”
Oz explains his motivation to Alberto in episode 1, “After Hours”
One of the best scenes in the entire DC series occurred in The penguin episode 1, where Oz found Alberto and had a long, tense conversation with him. After being caught trying to trick Alberto, Oz managed to get himself out of a difficult situation. Everything seems to be fine until Oz genuinely shares his motivations with Alberto. With this dialogue, Oz shows that his desire is to be admired and celebrated. All Oz wants is to be seen as someone important and worthy.
Unfortunately, Alberto laughs at this, and Oz shoots him several times in a violent rage.. It is one of the most effective scenes in the entire show and defines the trajectory of the entire series. The penguin. In this, the audience is quickly given details about who Oz is as a person, what motivates him, and how far he will go to achieve it. The audience quickly realizes how soft-spoken he is and how these moments can turn from a peaceful conversation to a violent reaction, defining the very spirit of the entire series.
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime drama spin-off television series from the 2022 film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, aka the Penguin, begins his rise in Gotham City’s underworld as he fights with his late boss’s daughter, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
- Cast
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Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Carmen Ejogo, Theo Rossi
- Release date
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September 19, 2024
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